Try Anything Once
[Notes included in the deluxe gold-CD version:]
>From the Beatles' Abbey Road, Pink Floyd's The Dark Side Of The Moon
and his work with the likes of Paul McCartney, George Harrison, The
Hollies and Al Stewart, to all the classic albums that have carried
his name, Alan Parsons has helped shape the sound of rock as we know
it today. As the guiding force behind the Alan Parsons Project,
albums like _I_Robot_, _Pyramid_, _Eve_, _The_Turn_Of_A_Friendly_Card_,
_Eye_In_The_Sky_ and _Ammonia_Avenue_ became recognized as some of the
most consistently innovative and adventurous music of any time.
_Try_Anything_Once_, the new album from Alan Parsons, is the result of
100 days of recording at his state-of-the-art home studio in Sussex,
England. The new album, his first in six years, features vocal
performances by Parsons staples like _Chris_Thompson_(Manfred_Mann's_
_Earth_Band)_ and _Eric_Stewart_(10cc)_, as well as from newcomers
_David_Pack_(Ambrosia)_ and _Jacqui_Copland_(Duran Duran)_. Joining
Parsons to form the core band are mainstays _Ian_Bairnson_(guitar)_,_
_Andrew_Powell_(keyboards)_ and _Stuart_Elliot[sic]_(drums)_, all of
whom collaborated with Alan on the songwriting.
Though the album soars far and wide lyrically, offering reflections on
life, fate and the soul from a variety of perspectives, Parsons cautions
that it's not a unified conceptual statement in the way some of "The
Project's" works were. _"There_isn't_one_consistent_theme,"_ he notes.
_"If_you_find_one,_I'd_like_to_know_about_it."_ What remains consistent,
of course, is Alan's trademark of richly layered, challenging instrument-
ation that reveals new dimensions, and surprises, with each repeated
listening.
_Try_Anything_Once_ is the culmination, and continued evolution, of an
extraordinary career. And, what better way to hear it in all its
sonic brilliance than on this bit of incredible technology. So, sit
back, and enjoy a truly astounding aural voyage.
The Three Of Me
Turn It Up
Wine From The Water
Breakaway
Mr. Time
Jigue
I'm Talkin' To You
Siren Song
Dreamscape
Back Against The Wall
Re-Jigue
Oh Life (There Must Be More)
The Three Of Me
[Pack/Powell]
There's a voice on the phone
Who just called in to say
"Mr. Jones isn't home
He'll be gone for the day"
So he pulls down the blind
To adjust his disguise
But it's all in his mind
Which he proudly denies
I turn the boat back from the weir
Where to go from here
I can't hide from each face I see
Looking out from behind them is me
I'm attempting to guess
What they meant when they said
"Mr. Jones and his guest
Won't be using the bed"
So if I take the rap
While they stay out of sight
I can spring from the trap
When the timing is right
One minute I think I know what I mean
The next I hear voices inside disagree
Why are they laughing at me?
So I pick up the phone
Someone's asking of me
Is the real Mister Jones
Mister One, Two or Three?
So I say that they're not
But it's not as I say
'Cos they're all that I've got
And I can't get away
As Alice waves us through the glass
Are we home at last
For tomorrow they'll be here you see
Locked away safe inside there with me
'Cos tomorrow they'll be here you'll see
Locked away safe inside they're with me
One minute I think I know what I mean
The next I hear voices inside disagree
Why are they laughing at me?
Turn It Up
[Bairnson]
It's no good believing in somebody else
If you can't believe in yourself
You give them the reason to take all the power and wealth
It's no good you trying to sit on the fence
And hope that the trouble will pass
'Cause sitting on fenses can make you a pain in the ass
If there's something you find to believe in
Then the message must get through
So don't just sit in silence
When you know what to do
Turn it up. Turn it up, make it louder
Turn it up. Turn it up, make it louder
There's no conversation if nobody speaks
And nothing gets done in the end
There's no confrontation when fantasy makes you its friend
So much injustice, too many lies
We don't have to look very far
But nothing will change if we leave things the way that they are
If there's something you find to believe in
Then the message must get through
So don't just sit in silence
When you know what to do
Turn it up. Turn it up, make it louder
Turn it up. Turn it up, make it louder
Wine From The Water
[Parsons/Bairnson]
You can take me up, you can wind me down
There's no escape, but I'll never drown
No wires or strings, No rough and smooth
Just fire and stings, Watch me closely, Watch my every move
I can count your money while I check your hand
And you know I just can't lose
Wine from the water, Gold from a tree
I wouldn't fool you, There's nothing up my sleeve
Look for a mirror, There's nothing there
I get rings out of nowhere, Money from thin air
I can break these chains, While I'm upside down
Well it may seem strange, I don't hit the ground
Now you see my hand, Is quicker than your eye
You should know by now, What you see here, all of it's a lie
I can count your money while I check your hand
And you know I just can't lose
Wine from the water, Gold from a tree
I wouldn't fool you, There's nothing up my sleeve
Think of a number, I'll get it right
Throw me in the river, Tie my hands up tight
I can wind you up, I can turn you round
No cunning stunts, till the lady's found
No coils or springs, Just nice and smooth
No Knaves or Kings, Find the lady, Watch my every move
I can count your money while I check your hand
And you know I just can't lose
Wine from the water, Gold from a tree
I wouldn't fool you, There's nothing up my sleeve
Look for a mirror, No, nothing there
I get rings out of nowhere, Money from thin air
Wine from the water, Gold from a tree
Now I wouldn't fool you, There's nothing up my sleeve
Think of a number, I'll get it right
You can throw me in the river, Tie my hands up tight
Wine from the water, Gold from a tree
Now I wouldn't fool you, There's nothing up my sleeve
Look for a mirror, There's nothing there
I get rings out of nowhere, Money from thin air
Breakaway - Instrumental
[PARSONS]
Mr. Time
[ELLIOT/COPLAND/DRISCOLL]
Stealing a moment from Mr. Time
He rocks in his chair like a shiny dime
But it's all for show, all for show.
Wearing your name and a number or two
When the minute's up, so are you
But everybody knows, everybody knows.
Watching the hour from the light in his eyes,
He waits for your soul to come in from the sky
But it's lost below, lost below.
Turning the Wheel of your destiny round,
When the motion stops - no more sound,
Does anybody care, anybody care.
Where's the man, where's the child
Wrapped together side by side.
Who can tell you what to do,
When Mr. Time has come for you.
See the truth, hear the lies,
Can there be no compromise
And who can tell you what they knew,
When Mr. Time has come for you.
Is it a feeling of deja vu?
When he points his finger calling you
Is it illusion? Just an illusion
Picking up seconds that fall to his feet
He blows them away as rocks on his seat,
Cool as his smile, his smile.
Where's the man, where's the child
Wrapped together side by side.
Who can tell you what to do,
When Mr. Time has come for you
See the truth, hear the lies,
Can there be no compromise
And who can tell you what they knew,
When Mr. Time has come for you.
Jigue - Instrumental
[PARSONS/POWELL]
I'm Talkin' To You
[PACK/POWELL]
Somehow you fell out of time
Boy you lost your place in line
But don't even try
To drag me down too
I'm talkin' to you, I'm talkin' to you
One star rises, one falls from the sky
You're still hiding the way you feel inside
One word closer to things we need to say
One cut deeper to tear the past away
You think I don't know your mind
But I know fools don't change with time
Until the warning signs
Come out of the blue
I'm talkin' to you, I'm talkin' to you
One light's burning - another fades away
Don't stand watching your dream go down in flames
One step closer, the door is open wide
Come tomorrow we'll see the other side
On and on until we change
Everything remains the same
On and on until we learn
On and on the wheels will turn...
Wounded words and eyes that lie
You won't let your demons die
Take a look inside
Or you're gonna lose
I'm talkin' to you, I'm talkin' to you
I'm talkin' to you
Whatever you do, the last laugh's on you
On and on until we change
Everything remains the same
On and on until we learn
On and on the wheels will turn...
Somehow you fell out of time
Boy you lost your place in line...
One star rises one star falls
Do you even care at all? ... this time
I'm talkin' to you
I'm talkin' to you
Siren Song
[BAIRNSON/MUSKER]
Days go by
Adrift upon a rolling sky
The miracles escape my eyes
But I still hope
Time, regret
Is this as good as life can get?
It's only when the spirit sets me free I cope
If I seek in every corner
If I search in every doorway
When the water turns to wine will I believe?
If I navigate the river
Would you take me to your island?
Sing a Siren song so I can never leave
Long and wide
Eternity from side to side
Lead me through the rapids
Guide me to the shore
There's a place
That's far beyond this time and space
When each of us comes face to face with something more
If I open up the channel
Will you send me information
If you tune me to your station, I'll receive
If I navigate the river
Would you take me to your island
Sing a Siren song so I can never leave
Plans can fail
But only fail to understand
The Pyramid will turn to sand and I'll be here
...I will be here
Dreamscape - Instrumental
[PARSONS]
Back Against The Wall
[BAIRNSON]
Stand up, and with your hand on the Bible
Tell the truth to one and all
'Cause you know that feeling
When you've got your back against the wall.
My God, it's only Tuesday tomorrow
And "Loved One's" gone and blown it all
Now you've got no money and you feel your back against the wall.
Well, if you talk to your brothers and they don't give a damn
And you look like you're gonna fall
You can call my number when you feel your back against the wall.
Some Tripper's got you right in a corner
And you feel you're gonna lose it all
Now you don't want trouble but you feel your back's against the wall.
So the guy moves forward but you hold him away
Shit there's no one there to hear you call
So you take your chances and you push him back against the wall.
Now the guy's in the gutter and you don't give a damn
And he looks kind of weak and small
'Cause you called his number when you felt your back against the wall.
Stand up, and with your hand on the Bible
Tell the truth to one and all
'Cause you know that feeling
When you've got your back against the wall.
Well, if you talk to your brothers and they don't give a damn
And you look like you're gonna fall
You can call my number when you feel your back against the wall.
Re-Jigue - Instrumental
[PARSONS/POWELL]
Oh Life (There Must Be More)
[PACK/PARSONS]
Waves roll out
Out to sea
Tasting the saltwater
Tears upon her cheek
Morning breaks
She's not there
Who could ever find her?
Who would even care?
No one heard
No one came
No angel of mercy
Appears to know her name
Where is hope
When words fail
All the colours running
Inside when life turns pale
In the dock the boats are harboured
Where the water's cold and still
Oh life, she cries, I've lost the will
>From the bridge she sees a lifetime
Being washed upon the shore
Oh life, she cries
There must be more...
Tides roll in
Waters rise
Any chance of reason
Only clouds her eyes
Arms of grace
She won't feel
All the wounds inside her
That time can never heal
The city lights shine seaward
Swirling in a trance
Her eyes upon the water
Alone in her last dance
>From the docks the boats are leaving
As she cries into the dawn
"Oh life, I'm barely holding on"
And she sees her future falling
Til it finds the ocean floor
Oh life, she cries
There must be more
There must be more
And with the early light
She'll sail into the clear
The winds are all behind her
The hour's almost here
>From the bridge she hears the voices
Turn into a roar
Oh life she cries
There must be more
On the dock her soul is sinking
But her spirit longs to soar
Oh life, she cries
There must be more
There must be more
There must be more
Oh life I'm barely holding on
There must be more
There must be more
Oh life there must be something more
(
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